November 10, 2026
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri entered the ongoing political debate, raising the bar in defense of the military establishment and its leader, General Rudolph Heikal, and warning of the danger of harming them at this delicate stage that Lebanon is going through.
In a statement to Al-Jumhuriya newspaper, Berri stressed his categorical rejection of targeting the army and its commander, describing it as a “crime and the greatest sin,” and reiterated the firmness of his position that “the army is a red line.” This position comes in conjunction with a widespread wave of political and popular condemnation of attacks on the military establishment, amid increasing questions about the timing and objectives of these campaigns, and the internal or external parties that stand behind or cover them.
Regarding the southern file, the Speaker of Parliament renewed his adherence to International Resolution 1701, warning of the serious risks resulting from ending the mission of the International Emergency Forces (UNIFIL) in southern Lebanon, and declaring his categorical rejection of any alternative forces operating outside the framework of the United Nations.
Berri’s positions are of exceptional importance because they combine protection of the military establishment and adherence to international authority in the south, at a time when Lebanon is facing increasing pressure to rearrange its security and border situation. These positions also open the door to questions about their repercussions on the internal debate regarding the role of the army, especially with the escalation of complex security and political issues that require national cover and decisions that the political authority holds responsible.
On another level, Berri invited a legislative session to be held before noon next Thursday, devoted to studying and approving a package of draft laws and proposals.
